Question for those that have had children.

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SonnysHumanSlave

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I just wondered how long after giving birth did it take you to get back in the saddle??

I know it very much depends on the birth, but I'm so desperate to ride.

My due date is the 20th june, and the 1st show I want to go to is on the 26th, so here's hoping either the baby is a bit early, or I recover fast.

Thanks
 
I wouldnt think you'd be able to ride for that show, it's amazing what pregnancy does to your muscles. It takes a while to build them up again. And once your baby arrives, I doubt you'll be as desperate to ride anyway. Sorry it's not more positive for the show
 
6 days!!! I think thats pushing it a bit! I have 2 children now, ones 4 yrs and other is 1. I have a 15,2 thoroughbred 6 yr old so was desperate to get back riding and educating her, i know all people are very different but with both births i had a normal delivery with no complications and it took me 8 weeks to get back riding. You normally get very heavy bleeding for 2-3 weeks while everything settles itself down and even the thickest of pads dont hold it for very long! You are meant to wait for you 6 week check before you ride again, just to make sure everything is healing properly.
Also most first babies are often late not early! Enjoy time with your baby for the first month or so and see how you go after that, Good luck!!
 
How fit are you now?
How strong are your ab muscles still?
And what does the show entail?

I am sure I have deard of folk riding within a week of giving birth - provided no c-sec or nasty episiotomy. If its just a showing show you would prob be ok. But until you have had the wee one you wont know.

Despite a c-sec I still has really strong ab muscles - I could do situps but the cut did hurt. I was fine sitting on something - I used to sit on the sofa arm like you sit on a horse - and in fact found that the best way to sit.

It was walking I had problems with as my legs were like jello!
 
Sorry Im afraid I agree with above,6 days is definately pushing it as you will probably still be suffering with some heavy bleeding and if you end up having stitches you certainly wont be considering getting in the saddle (ouchy)
I have three children and number 4 is due any day now and although I did ride before my 6 week check up after at least one of the births I still seem to remember it was about 4/5 weeks before I felt healed enough to want to.
The other thing I didnt realise until it happened is how much it affects your stomach muscles,the first rising trot I tried was agony as all your stomach muscles have stretched,I ended up grabbing hold of a clump of mane to balance myself and rapidly returned to walk.
 
Well this one is my 2nd, my first was really early (if this one was the same she'd be here 5weeks ago!!)

I didn't have a horse 1st time round, so its hard to tell.

My muscles are all fine, I'm still carting stuff about etc etc, I would ride now, but last time I went for a walk 2 weeks ago it felt like a needed the toilet, so haven't ridden since.

I doubt I'll last 6weeks for a check up, when I fractured my pelvis I was told no riding for 8weeks - back in saddle jumping (1 stirrup) after 2 weeks.
And when I broke my wrist I was back riding next day lol.

I'm very gun ho! As the doctor said and cannot stop doing things! Lol.
 
got on gentle lass 2 days after first born (month early) & went out for a pootle around the village.
9 days after second & had to be lifted off due to bad PGP causing emmense pain, id been on crutches for last 4 months of pregnancy with it.

been on once since number 3 born to see how my hips held up as Drs had said i wouldnt be able to ride again if i went through with 3rd pregnancy (& its looking like he was right)

so now getting the ponios driving.
 
I had a horrendous birth with many, many stitches ..... a week later, I was on my hands and knees crying to my Mum down the phone lol, it was that bad.

But, I was riding at 4 weeks and was out and about at 6 weeks.
 
I had my second on the on the December 5th and was back in the saddle on 27th Jan. I had both mine naturally and believe me, I was in no rush to get back on a horse!
 
Sorry to say I think wait until six week check. ~Keep doing all those pelvic floor exercises. You don't really want to be buying the Tena lady in a few years do you!! Sorry.
 
With my 2nd It was 4/5 weeks, still felt quite sore and bruised, plus the old pelvic floor was still not up to scratch. For me the worst thing was the total loss of muscle tone and subsequently balance. I had ridden up until 7 months and had been very active, mucking out, carting barrows or water and hay right up until Evie was born , two weeks late.

I guess it just depends on how this birth goes. Evie is now a year old so the memory of the pain is fading, but I still remmember the post birth feeling that I have been kicked in the whotnot with steel toe capped boots.
 
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Double_choc_lab said:
Sorry to say I think wait until six week check. ~Keep doing all those pelvic floor exercises. You don't really want to be buying the Tena lady in a few years do you!! Sorry.
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I don't think it makes any difference if you ride or not as to whether you suffer incontinence.

I have an identical twin sister and we both had babies within weeks of each other. I have always ridden, she rode when we were children.

She suffers from incontinence :eek::D and I don't :):cool:.
 
Depending on the sort of person you are and the sort of birth experience you have, you may only just about be able to get you and the baby out of the house after 6 days! I had c-section with both mine, back in the saddle after 4 1/2 weeks with the first (naughty I know, but was desperate and had ridden up to about 7 1/2 months so still felt quite fit). Much later with 2nd but a lot of that was just down to juggling two children etc. Good luck and enjoy those early days - they go too fast and before you know it you'll have a teenager in the house! :D
 
Firstly, Congratulations :D

I had my first baby at the beginning of December and, like you, was desperate to get back in the saddle. I ended up with 20 stitches and couldn't even walk properly for 3 weeks so the idea of getting back riding was unbearable at that stage. Things then seemed to heal and settle back down pretty quickly after that though and I had a steady walk after about 4/5 weeks and then ramped it up after my 6 week check. I was competing within 3 months which most people were absolutely astounded by!!

I guess it all depends on the birth and how you feel afterwards, but I'd be gobsmacked if you felt like competing within 6 days. Sorry :(
 
Are you joking?! I could barely shuffle after the birth of mine, never mind begin to think about sitting astride! I had one of those rubber ring things to sit on I was so sore.

What are you going to do with the baby while you go to this show? Hope you have a big car to cart along everything you need for baby & the horse!

Two of mine were over 10 days late, & the third a week late, so you probably won't be able to anyway. I think you may have to prioritise things, & I'm sure horsey won't mind a weekend off.
 
I didn't ride for 6 weeks after and I had a pretty "normal" birth. It wasn't because I couldn't it was more I didn't want to leave baby. I'm still a little bit like it now and he's 19 months! I'm fine if its for a few hours but for a whole day I start stressing! Your hormones make you feel a bit weird for a little while after the birth so think you will probably want to stay with baby. Also I had him 5 days past due day!
 
Clipclopop - Leakage - ewwwwww!!!!! Brings back memories does this thread!!!!

I didn't have a horse to ride right after I had my little one, and I'm glad, as I had enough trouble just sitting down and getting up again. And don't remind me what having a wee was like!!! (I only had grazes, no stitches. Which might have been worse!)

I would definately wait, there will be other shows. Give yourself a chance to recover.
and the next show will be here before you know it, time flies with kids around. Can anyone tell me how on earth mine is going to be 11 tomorrow???!!!!!!!!
 
I waited 6 weeks to ride having needed quite a few stitches. In fact, at 6 days after the birth i was still finding it uncomfortable sitting on a chair!
 
I had 2 c-secs, so was about 6 weeks after the first til I got on and went for a potter around the block which felt fine amd was soon back to normal. Luckily my mum had been keeping Meg fit for me. Number 2 was a bit quicker, I think I was back on at 3 weeks, again just pottering.
Riding is one thing, going to a show is another, add stress of baby, hormones AND leakage, I'd rule it out personally - unless babe makes an early enterance. Good luck, keep us posted!
 
6 days post baby:eek: I wasn't conscious long enough to even think about riding, apart from all that everyone else has mentioned I was completely exhausted, I just slept and slept. Thank God I had live in help.
I was induced 14 days past the EDD as Evie liked being exactly where she was, I had a very fast birth, just a couple of hours from start to finish with lots of complications and stitches etc. I hurt everywhere, and my boobs were so sore that even walking was painful, riding a joggy mare - forget it!

I don't think I rode for about 4 months, but the mare was in foal at the time so it was only ambling about anyway.
 
First time round I couldn't sit down without a rubber ring thingy for 2 weeks after a long labour and wacking great episiotomy. Hormones also were all over the place! However, once I got rid of the, erm, swelling (!) I was back on board 4/5 weeks post-baby, and delighted to have a bit of 'me' time...but I would recommend a hefty maternity/sports bra!! Best of luck!
 
I would say 6 days is definately pushing it! Sorry if any of the following gets a bit graphic, and of course everyone is different, but I wouldn't get your hopes up for a show 6 days after your due date,

first babies are usually late (both mine were 11 days late and I had to be induced). Only 4% of babies actually come on their due date I think.
you will bleed lots (and I mean LOTS).
Assuming you have a fairly straight forward birth, you are still likely to need a few stitches at least.
Your pelvic floor muscles will be really weak - the first time I rode after giving birth and I cantered I nearly weed myself!! Wet joddies....not a good look for a competition I'd imagine!
All your ligaments are still really loose until your body has got rid of all the "relaxin" hormone - I'm sure thats not quite the technical term, but I know you can do yourself lots of damage in the long run if you stretch yourself too much too soon.
Your tummy muscles will be a bit like jelly for a while - it's quite hard to balance correctly without them!
If you decide to breast feed baby will need feeding about every 2 hrs to start with - and that doesnt mean you have a 2 hour break, that means you start feeding every 2 hours, and newborns can take 45mins till they are full, which assuming you can hand bubba over to be burped, changed cos they've just done a poo, and then get yourself changed as they've puked all over you, wont give you much time to ride!!! And that's if you can get the timings right!

Sorry, not good news for the comp, but good luck with the baby and enjoy - they're only little for a really short amount of time!
 
I doubt if you will feel up to it so soon, but we are all different. But be reassured, I had 3 children, got all the stitches, etc. etc. but everything went back into the right places afterwards and I haven't even got droppy boobs. Having an expensive riding jacket is a good incentive to diet back to pre-baby shape, although don't go mad.

Just enjoy your baby. I was so keen to get back riding with the first and back too "normal life" that I really didn't enjoy him as much as I should. I was more relaxed with the second and third and have a better relationship with them I think.
 
:( ewwwwww leakage, never even thought about that, guess I'll not be riding at the show, will have to take little pony instead to do gymkana.

How gutted am I though, and I'd have my OH with me to help with baby... Or pony on the day.

Can't believe I'm looking at another 6weeks after birth :s this baby better come out soon!
 
sugarpuff said:
I

Sorry, not good news for the comp, but good luck with the baby and enjoy - they're only little for a really short amount of time!
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Omg!! I don't think I want to be pregnant anymore or go into labour!! I am breastfeeding too, so that'll be it then. Oh dear!!

I've given birth before but it was almost 6yrs ago, and wasn't a normal birth due to her being so early, my stomach is a lot bigger this time too, so I imagine will be more wobbly. :(
 
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